Fastening means for butt-joint metal culverts.



J. H. DEAN.

FASTENING MEANS FOR BUTT JOINT METAL GULVERTS.

' APPLICATION FILBD APR.15, 1913.

1,081,295 Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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JOHN H. DEAN, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

FASTENING MEANS FOR BUTT-JOTNT METAL GULVERTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Applicationfiled April 15, 1913. Serial No. 761,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Means for Butt-Joint Meta-l Culverts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to keys or clips for use in fastening together and maintaining in connected relation, the complementary sections of my improved butt joint nestable metal culvert which I have particularly set forth and covered in Patent No. 1,049,816, granted to me on January 7 1913.

The type of butt joint nestable culvert herein referred to is one in which said culvert is made up of metal sections, preferably corrugated half sections, which sections have rigid metal strips or bars welded or riveted to the sides of said sections at or near their longitudinal edges, "the strips or bars being so arranged with respect to said metal sections that spaces or passageways are formed at intervals bet-ween the sections and said strips for receiving the keys. In assembling this type of culvert, the complementary sections are placed together with their longitudinal edges meeting or abutting, and the key or clip to be hereinafter more particularly described, is provided for engaging within the passageways formed between the sections and the strips with a view to providing a means for forcing the longitudinal edges of complementary sections into true abutting relation and furthermore, for retaining said edges in such position. These keys are also adapted to serve as a means for connecting the adjacent strips of complementary sec tions together, whereby said complementary sections are held and retained in proper assembled relation.

T have illustrate-d my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a butt joint culvert illustrating my improved key or clip in proper position for accomplishing the purpose for which it is intended; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the longitudinal edges of the culvert in abutting relation, and one of the keys inserted in a passageway formed between the sides of the culvert sections and the metal strips; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the keys or clips; and Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawing, it is to be noted that each section, indicated at 1 of the butt joint culvert, is shown provided with corrugations which are arranged parallel with opposite ends thereof, and that when these sections, which are preferably half sections, are arranged in assembled position to form the completed culvert, the corrugations of upper and lower sections coincide with each other, or in other words, each convex and concave corrugation of an upper section is directly in line with the convex and concave corrugations respectively of the section below it. It is to be noted that these sections are constructed without the usual outstanding flanges, but that the longitudinal edges of complementary sections are adapted to abut as indicated at 2 in the drawing, so that when said sections are connected to gether with their longitudinal edges meeting or abutting, the corrugated culvert, for all intents and purposes, has the appearance and strength of an integral corrugated cylinder.

As has heretofore been referred to, the culvert sections are provided at or near their longitudinal edges, with rigid metal strips or bars 3, which are secured to the convex corrugations of each section, preferably by welding or riveting the same thereto, and it will. be noted that passageways, as indicated at 4-, are formed between the sides of the corrugated culvert sections and the said metal strips at points intermediate the conveX corrugations of said sections, and these passageivays are provided for receiving my improved sheet metal key or clip.

In the form of key or clip illustrated in the drawing, the same is shown stamped from a single piece of metal, preferably the same kind of metal from which the culvert sections are made. This key is provided at its upper end with a downwardly bent flange indicated at 5, which is adapted to engage the upper strip or bar of complementary sections, and also has its lower portion lingers 6, 6, which are adapted if found necessary, to be bent up into engagement with the bottom edge of the lower strip of said complementary sections. The key is also provided intermediate its ends, with a bulged or bellied portion 7, which is of such shape as to neatly fit within the passageways formed between the strips or bars and the sides of the culvert sections, and conform to the concave corrugations of said sections.

It will be seen that when the sections of the culvert are assembled with longitudinal edges of upper and lower sections abutting, as referred to above, and with the metal strips or bars 3 of complementary sections arranged to lie adjacent one another, preferably also in abutting relation, that the keys may be inserted within the passageways, and when so inserted said keys engage between the sides of said culvert and the metal strips for the purpose of holding and retaining the longitudinal meeting edges of the culvert sections in true abutting relation, and furthermore, connecting said strips together for holding complementary sections in such connected relation.

It has been found that in certain sizes of culverts that it is not necessary to bend up the fingers 6 into engagement with the bottom edge of the lower strip for the purpose of tying or connecting adjacent strips of complementary sections together, but that the mere insertion of the keys within the passageways is quite sufficient, and this due to the frictional engagement between said keys and the sides of the culvert sections and strips. To connect the sections firmly together, however, the fingers 6 should be bent up into engagement with the bottom edge of the lower strip, as set forth above, and as clearly shown in the drawing. Two fingers are shown in the form of key illustrated in the accompanying drawing, although more fingers may be provided if found desirable. The purpose of providing a plurality of fingers is to facilitate the bending of the lowermost portion of the key into engagement with the lower strip, as above described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A key or clip adapted to engage the sides of butt joint culverts for holding and retaining the longitudinal meeting edges of said culvert in abutting relation, said key having a flange across its top portion and also provided at its lower portion with a plurality of bendable fingers for the purpose specified.

2. A key or clip adapted to engage the sides of butt joint culverts for holding and retaining the longitudinal meeting edges of said culvert in abutting relation, said key having a flange at its top portion, a plurality of bendable fingers at its lower portion, and a bulged portion intermediate its ends.

3. A key or clip adapted to engage within passageways formed between the sides of butt joint culverts and metal strips secured thereto, said key provided with a flange at its top portion and a plurality of bendable fingers for the purpose specified.

l. A key or clip adapted for insertion within passageways formed bet-ween the sides of a butt-joint culvert and metal strips secured along the longitudinal edges thereof, said key having a flange adapted to engage one of the strips, and also provided with a plurality of fingers capable of being bent up into engagement with the other strip, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A key or clip adapted to engage within passageways formed between the sides of butt-joint culverts and metal strips secured along the longitudinal edges thereof, said key serving to retain the longitudinal meeting edges of said culvert in true abutting relation and provided with means which serve to tie the metal strips together for completing the joint, such means including a plurality of bendable fingers.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. DEAN.

Vitnesses:

JAMES U. DEAN, H. O. BERNARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

